View source for London River Services

{{About|the governmental body responsible for public transport services along the River Thames|the organisation responsible for [[:Category:Canals in London|canals in London]]|Canal and River Trust}}
{{Short description|Licenser of river services, part of Transport for London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox Water transit
|name = London River Services
|logo = LRS roundel.svg
|logo_size =150
|image = Bankside Pier sign.jpg
|image_size = 250
|locale = [[London]], England
|waterway =[[River Thames]]
|transit_type = Commuter boats, ferries and tourist/leisure services
|began_operation = 1999
|ended_operation =
|system_length =
|lines =
|vessels =
|terminals = 25 (8 managed by TfL)
|ridership =
|operator = Various boat companies
|owner = [[Transport for London]]
|website = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/river
}}
'''London River Services Limited''' is a division of [[Transport for London]] (TfL), which manages passenger transport - leisure-oriented tourist services and commuter services - along the [[River Thames]] in and around London. It does not own or operate any boats itself, except those on the [[Woolwich Ferry]], but [[license|licence]]s the services of operators.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/1562.aspx
|title=About London River Services
|access-date=1 April 2008
|author=Transport for London }}
</ref>

The Thames had been used as a common means of transport in London for centuries, but use died off in the early 1900s, as transportation was enhanced (and river traffic somewhat blocked) with a proliferation of [[List of crossings of the River Thames|bridges and tunnels]]. With these numerous north–south crossings of the Thames, which is generally no more than {{cvt|300|m}} wide as it flows through central London, the revival of river boat services in London therefore mostly travel east or west along the Thames rather than across it; the only major cross-river ferry services can be found further downstream where the river is much wider, and there are far fewer bridge or tunnel crossings.

The decision to revive London's river service network moved forward in 1997 with the launch of "Thames", a £21-million project (£{{Inflation|UK|21|1997|r=0|fmt=c}} million today) to regenerate the River Thames and create new passenger transport services on the Thames. While the service is not as extensive as those in [[Transport in Hong Kong#Ferries|Hong Kong]] or [[Sydney Ferries|Sydney]], it has been growing: in 2007, more than 700,000 commuters travelled by river on [[Thames Clippers]] services, one of the [[#Operators|operators]] on the system;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thamesclippers.com/article/117 |title=ThamesClippers: Surf the Thames! |first=Thamesclippers |last=London |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013002142/http://www.thamesclippers.com/article/117 |archive-date=13 October 2007 }}</ref> in 2013 the Thames Clippers service had grown to 3.3 million, as it had become more integrated into the [[London Underground|tube]], rail and bus ticketing system;<ref name=2015Update/> in 2014 their figures were 3.8 million;<ref name=2015Update/> in 2015 it was forecasted that their ridership would increase to 4.3 million by 2016, supported by the addition of new Clipper boats.<ref name="2015Update">{{cite web |url=https://www.thamesclippers.com/about-mbna-thames-clippers/news/london-celebrates-arrival-of-two-new-commuter-boats-after-15000-mile-journey-from-australia |title=London celebrates arrival of two new commuter boats after 15,000-mile journey from Australia |work=[[Thames Clippers|MBNA Thames Clippers]] |date=19 October 2015 |access-date=9 October 2018 |archive-date=9 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009211520/https://www.thamesclippers.com/about-mbna-thames-clippers/news/london-celebrates-arrival-of-two-new-commuter-boats-after-15000-mile-journey-from-australia |url-status=dead }}</ref> By 2018, there were 21 different operators carrying daily commuter, leisure, charter, or sightseeing passengers to various combinations of the 33 piers along the system.

==History==
[[File:Canaletto - London- The Thames from Somerset House Terrace towards the City - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|18th-century view of river traffic in [[Canaletto]]'s painting ''The Thames from Somerset House Terrace towards the City'' (1751)]]
Before the construction of [[List of crossings of the River Thames|London's bridges]] and the [[London Underground|Underground]], the River Thames had served as a major thoroughfare for centuries. Attempts to regulate the transport of passengers and goods began in 1197, when [[King Richard I]] sold the Crown's rights over the Thames to the [[City of London Corporation]], which then attempted to license boats on the river. In 1510 [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] granted a licence to [[watermen]] that gave exclusive rights to carry passengers on the river,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2003/jul/16/guardiansocietysupplement1|title=Making waves|first=Graeme|last=Ewens|date=16 July 2003|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> and in 1555 an Act of Parliament set up the [[Company of Watermen and Lightermen]] to control traffic on the Thames.

For centuries the only bridge across the Thames was [[London Bridge]]. Crossing the river by [[wherry]] (small wooden rowing boat) was a common mode of transport.<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://www.ltmcollection.org/museum/object/object.html?_IXSR_=kDKeXKtf7OX&_IXMAXHITS_=1&IXinv=2006/13444&IXsummary=gallery/gallery_sub&IXgallery=CGP.020.120&_IXFIRST_=1
|title = Wherry model
|access-date = 13 May 2008
|author = London Transport Museum
|year = 2008
|work = Online Museum
|archive-date = 8 November 2011
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111108092646/http://www.ltmcollection.org/museum/object/object.html?_IXSR_=kDKeXKtf7OX&_IXMAXHITS_=1&IXinv=2006/13444&IXsummary=gallery/gallery_sub&IXgallery=CGP.020.120&_IXFIRST_=1
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>

===19th century===
[[Image:Pool of London, River Thames, 1841.jpg|thumb|right|Steamers on the Thames in 1841]]
Passenger steamboats were introduced in 1815 and the use of the river as a means of public transport increased greatly. River services ran from [[Gravesend, Kent|Gravesend]], [[Margate]] and [[Ramsgate]] via [[Greenwich]] and [[Woolwich]] into central London. By the mid-1850s about 15,000 people per day travelled to work on steamboat services – twice the number of passengers on the newly emerging railways.<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://www.ltmcollection.org/museum/gallery/gallery_sub.html?IXgallery=CGP.020.130
|title = 19th century London – On the water
|access-date = 13 May 2008
|author = London Transport Museum
|year = 2008
|work = Online Museum
|archive-date = 12 June 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120612015618/http://www.ltmcollection.org/museum/gallery/gallery_sub.html?IXgallery=CGP.020.130
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> With increased congestion on the river, collisions and other accidents became correspondingly more frequent, most notably with the [[SS Princess Alice (1865)|''Princess Alice'' disaster]] at Woolwich in 1878.<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://www.ltmcollection.org/museum/object/object.html?_IXSR_=iTRkECljJyo&_IXMAXHITS_=1&IXinv=1998/84165&IXsummary=gallery/gallery_sub&IXgallery=CGP.020.140&IXfilter=CGP.020.140.020&_IXFIRST_=1
|title = 19th century London – River traffic declines
|access-date = 13 May 2008
|author = London Transport Museum
|year = 2008
|work = Online Museum
|archive-date = 12 June 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120612015932/http://www.ltmcollection.org/museum/object/object.html?_IXSR_=iTRkECljJyo&_IXMAXHITS_=1&IXinv=1998%2F84165&IXsummary=gallery%2Fgallery_sub&IXgallery=CGP.020.140&IXfilter=CGP.020.140.020&_IXFIRST_=1
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>

While the introduction of large steamboats and bridge construction had taken business from the Thames watermen, the growth of the railways took passengers away from the steamboat services and the use of the river for public transport began a steady decline. River service companies struggled financially, and in 1876 the five main boat companies merged to form the [[London Steamboat Company]]. The company ran a half-hourly service from Chelsea to Greenwich for eight years until it went bankrupt in 1884. Nevertheless, river services continued under different management into the next century. Many of the Thames paddle steamers around this time were built by the [[Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company|Thames Ironworks]] at [[Bow Creek (England)|Bow Creek]].<ref>
{{Citation |author=Stephen Croad |title=Liquid History – the Thames through Time|publisher=English Heritage|year=2003  | isbn=0-7134-8834-4 }}</ref>

===20th century===
[[File:Thames Embankment postcard.jpg|thumb|Paddle-steamer ''Pepys'' used in the 1905-1907 service]]
In 1905 the [[London County Council]] (LCC) launched its own public river transport service to complement its new [[London County Council Tramways|tram network]], acquiring piers and investing in a large fleet of 30 paddle-steamers.<ref>LCC steamers were supplied by a number of different shipbuilders: [[Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company|Thames Ironworks]], the [[Glasgow]] shipbuilders [[Napier & Miller]], J I Thornycroft of Southampton and Rennie of Greenwich –
{{Cite web
 |url         = http://paddlesteamers.awardspace.com/LondonCountyCouncil.htm
 |access-date  = 19 May 2008
 |title       = Paddle Steamer Resources – London County Council
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707211104/http://paddlesteamers.awardspace.com/LondonCountyCouncil.htm
 |archive-date = 7 July 2011
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> Frequent services operated from Hammersmith to Greenwich. The LCC river service was not a success; in the first year it ran up debts of £30,000. It was shut down in 1907 after only two years' service.<ref>{{Cite web
|url =http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/server.php?show=conObject.582
|title =A London County Council paddle steamboat 'The Rennie' at Lambeth Pier
|access-date =13 May 2008
|author =Exploring 20th Century London
|year =2004
|work =Exploring 20th Century London
|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110723030037/http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/server.php?show=conObject.582
|archive-date =23 July 2011
|url-status =dead
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|url =http://www.ltmcollection.org/museum/object/object.html?_IXSR_=mhOpfXK_fTG&_IXMAXHITS_=1&IXinv=2005/495&IXsummary=results/results&IXsearch=King%20Alfred&IXfilterresults=objects&_IXFIRST_=1
|title =Paddle steamer "King Alfred", built 1905
|access-date =13 May 2008
|author =London Transport Museum
|year =2005
|archive-date =3 March 2016
|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171704/http://www.ltmcollection.org/museum/object/object.html?_IXSR_=mhOpfXK_fTG&_IXMAXHITS_=1&IXinv=2005/495&IXsummary=results/results&IXsearch=King%20Alfred&IXfilterresults=objects&_IXFIRST_=1
|url-status =dead
}}</ref>

Numerous proposals for "river bus" services were considered throughout the 20th century, although the few that were realised were cancelled after a short time in service.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url        = http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-949495-details/Ideas+that+don't+go+down+the+river/article.do
 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130505071547/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-949495-details/Ideas+that+don't+go+down+the+river/article.do
 |url-status   = dead
 |archive-date = 5 May 2013
 |title      = Ideas that don't go down the river
 |access-date = 13 May 2008
 |author     = Patrick McGowan
 |date       = 12 October 2000
 |work       = Evening Standard
 |quote      = One thing links every Thames transport scheme in nearly a century: failure.
}}</ref> During [[World War II]], from 13 September 1940 to 2 November 1940, a temporary wartime river bus service was introduced, running every 20 minutes, between [[Westminster]] and Woolwich using converted pleasure cruisers provided by the [[Port of London Authority]] to replace train, tram and trolleybus services which were disrupted by the bombing of the [[The Blitz|Blitz]]. London Transport bus inspectors and [[Bus conductor|conductors]] issued and checked the tickets on board the boats.<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/server.php?show=conObject.1918
|title = A conductor selling tickets on a Thames river bus
|access-date = 13 May 2008
|author = Exploring 20th Century London
|year = 1998
|work = Exploring 20th Century London
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110723030207/http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/server.php?show=conObject.1918
|archive-date = 23 July 2011
|url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Story of the London Bus|last=Day|first=John|publisher=London Transport Executive|year=1973|isbn=0-85329-037-7|pages=[https://archive.org/details/storyoflondonbus0000dayj/page/90 90–91]|url=https://archive.org/details/storyoflondonbus0000dayj/page/90}}</ref>

With the move of the [[Port of London]] downstream in the 1960s, regular river transport was limited to a few sightseeing boats.

===Revival of passenger services===
In 1997 [[Secretary of State for Transport]] [[John Prescott]] launched Thames 2000, a £21-million project to regenerate the River Thames in time for the Millennium Celebrations and boost new passenger transport services on the Thames.<ref>{{Cite web
|url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199798/ldhansrd/vo980408/text/80408-06.htm
|title = Hansard
|access-date =30 March 2008
|date = 8 April 1998
|work=Hansard, 8 April 1998 : Column 796
|quote = We expect a million people to travel by boat from central London. There will be new piers and new river services and there will also be a certain number of park-and-ride facilities.
}}</ref> The centrepiece of these celebrations was to be the [[Millennium Dome]], but there was also a plan to provide a longer-term legacy of public transport boat services and piers on the river.

[[Image:Waterloo Pier 1.jpg|thumb|right|River traffic around Waterloo Pier in 2008]]

The [[Cross-River Partnership]], a [[consortium]] of local authorities, private sector organisations and voluntary bodies, recommended the creation of a public body to co-ordinate and promote river services. This agency, provisionally titled the Thames Piers Agency, would integrate boat services into other modes of public transport, take control of Thames piers from the [[Port of London]] Authority, and commission the construction of new piers.<ref name="aboutLRS">{{Cite web
|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/1562.aspx
|title=About London River Services
|author=Transport for London
|access-date=6 April 2008
}}</ref>

The result was the formation in 1999 of London River Services (LRS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London.

[[Mayor of London|Mayor]] [[Ken Livingstone]]'s ''Transport Strategy for London'' 2005 stated that: "The safe use of the Thames for passenger and freight services should be developed. Passenger services will be encouraged, particularly services that relate to its cultural and architectural excellence and tourism. Use of London's other navigable waterways for freight, consistent with their roles for leisure use and as ecosystems, will be encouraged."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/transport/river.jsp|title=Mayor of London – Transport Strategy – River|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070301051241/http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/transport/river.jsp|archive-date=1 March 2007}}</ref>

===21st century===
[[Image:Greenwich pier3.jpg|thumb|Greenwich Pier with TfL branding]]
[[File:Aerial view of London City Airport 2007.jpg|thumb|right| [[London City Airport]] in the Royal Docks, next to the Thames]]
Today, LRS is responsible for integrating river transport with the rest of the public transport network, such as the Tube and buses. It promotes boat services under the London River Services brand, issuing timetables and river maps.

LRS is also responsible for directly managing eight piers on the river, and invested in LRS-branded signage and passenger information.

LRS supports the [[Thames Clippers]] commuter service financially and increased the peak service frequency to a boat every 15 minutes.<ref name="aboutLRS"/> In April 2009 the signing of a "River [[Concordat]]" by London's pier owners, boat operators, borough councils and Transport for London was announced, committing the various parties to improving ticketing, piers and passenger information, and to closer integration into the transport network.<ref name="concordat">{{Cite news|url=http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=21637|title=Making the Thames an easier option|date=6 April 2009|publisher=Mayor of London/GLA|access-date=14 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409075640/http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=21637|archive-date=9 April 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

London River Services is not responsible for maintaining the river itself; the [[Port of London Authority]] takes care of river traffic control, security, [[pilotage|navigational]] safety (including [[buoys]], beacons, bridge lights and channel surveys),<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://www.portoflondon.co.uk/display_fixedpage.cfm/id/2233/site/pla
|title = About the PLA – Safety
|access-date = 16 May 2008
|author = Port of London Authority
|year = 2008
|work = Official website
|archive-date = 11 October 2008
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081011231032/http://www.portoflondon.co.uk/display_fixedpage.cfm/id/2233/site/pla
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> and the [[RNLI]] operates [[Tower Lifeboat Station|Thames lifeboat services]].

==Branding==
The public presentation of London River Services is visually associated with existing TfL design standards, using identical graphic design elements to those used on London Underground publicity, signage and other elements, drawing on the design heritage of [[Frank Pick]].

The London River Services brand is a sub-brand of TfL which uses the familiar [[London Underground#Roundel|Tube roundel]], originally devised for London Underground and now established as the corporate branding for all TfL services. The River Services roundel is a dark blue ([[Pantone]] 072) bar on pale blue (Pantone 299) circle.

The corporate signage, stationery and literature of TfL services, including LRS, use the [[Johnston (typeface)|New Johnston]] typeface.<ref>{{Cite web
|url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/12523.aspx#lrs
|title = London River Services – Basic elements standard, Issue 2
|access-date =21 January 2013
|author=Transport for London
|date = January 2009
}}
</ref>

LRS publishes diagrammatic river maps in the style of [[Harry Beck]]'s iconic [[Tube map]]. Tube maps published by TfL since 2000 denote river interchange stations with a boat symbol.

==Services==
The service patterns advertised by TfL can vary according to season. They are divided into three main types:<ref name="rivtim">{{Cite web | url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1131.aspx |title = River Timetable | publisher=Transport for London | access-date =12 June 2007 }}</ref>

===River Bus commuter services===
[[File:Uber_Boat_(50421941772).jpg|thumb|right|A commuter boat operated by [[Thames Clippers|Uber Boat by Thames Clippers]] on the River Thames]]
Numbered River Bus services (abbreviated to ''RB'') run to a timetable through the day with more frequent services during peak rush hour times. Most services run seven days a week, although some do not operate at weekends. Many operators offer discounted fares to [[Travelcard]] holders. The main lines of operation are:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!
!Service
!Route
!Notes
|-
|style = "background:#514F9D" |
|RB1
|Battersea Power Station Pier/Westminster Pier ↔ North Greenwich Pier/Barking Riverside Pier
| <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=River Services map |url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/riverservices-map.pdf |access-date=31 January 2023 |publisher=Transport for London}}</ref>
|-
|style = "background:#008267" |
|RB2
|Putney Pier ↔ North Greenwich Pier
| <ref name=":0" />
|-
|style = "background:#FECD50" |
|RB6
|Putney Pier ↔ Canary Wharf Pier
| <ref name=":0" />
|}
The [[catamaran]]-hulled vessels have on-board coffee bars, airline-style seating, are wheelchair-accessible and have bicycle racks.

===Ferry services===
[[Image:WoolwichFerryNorthTerminal.jpg|thumb|The Woolwich vehicle & passenger ferry]]
In central London, the River Thames is narrow enough to allow it to be crossed by many bridges; further downstream however, the river widens and there are fewer bridge crossings. Two ferry services are still in operation:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!
!Service
!Route
!Notes
|-
|style = "background:#A7674C" |
|RB4 [[Canary Wharf - Rotherhithe Ferry]]
|[[Canary Wharf Pier]] ↔ [[Nelson Dock Pier|Doubletree Docklands Nelson Dock Pier]] 
|Serves the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Rotherhithe. Boats operate roughly every 10 minutes, and can be used both by guests of the hotel as well as by passengers not staying at the hotel.<ref name=":0" />
|-
|style = "background:#C5143D" |
|[[Woolwich Ferry]] 
|[[Woolwich]] ↔ [[North Woolwich]]
|Free ferry service for vehicles and foot passengers, close to [[King George V DLR station]]. For vehicles, the service links the London ring roads, the [[A406 road|North]] and [[A205 road|South Circular]] roads, at their eastern ends.
|}
Two other ferry services operate upstream in west London: [[Hammerton's Ferry]] and the [[Hampton Ferry (River Thames)|Hampton Ferry]]. These services are independent of London River Services as they do not serve LRS-managed piers.

===Leisure services===
[[Image:London River Services1.jpg|thumb|right|A tourist boat operated by Bateaux London Catamaran Cruisers on the River Thames]]
Leisure boats are aimed mainly at the tourist market; as they do not usually provide rush hour services, they are not normally suitable for commuting. Some boat companies run regular scheduled services, others may run twice daily, only on certain days of the week, or only during certain months of the year. Boats may also be chartered for private hire. Destinations are often tourist attractions such as the [[Tate]] Galleries or [[Hampton Court Palace]].
:* Bankside – Waterloo – Millbank (Tate to Tate)
:* [[Festival Pier]] – High Speed RIB Tours (Operated By Rib Tours London)
:* London Eye River Cruise
:* Multilingual Circular Cruise
:* [[Greenwich Pier]] Sunday Evening Thames Sightseeing Cruise (Campion Launches)
:* MV Balmoral and Paddle Steamer [[PS Waverley|Waverley]] Cruises from Tower Pier
:* Richmond – Kingston – Hampton Court
:* Tilbury/Gravesend – Greenwich
:* Westminster – Kew – Richmond – Hampton Court
:* Westminster – St Katharine's Hop-on, Hop-off circular service
:* Westminster – Waterloo – Tower – Greenwich
:* Westminster Pier – High Speed RIB Tours (Operated By Thames Jet)
:* [[Westminster Pier]] – [[Tower Bridge Quay]] – [[Greenwich Pier]] – Thames Flood Barrier ([[Barrier Gardens Pier]]) (Operated by [[Thames River Services]])

==Operators==
Scheduled tourist and commuter services on the river are operated by a number of private companies, including:<ref name=rivtim/>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Operator
! Services
! External link
|-
| Bateaux London
| Dining cruises
| [http://www.bateauxlondon.com www.bateauxlondon.com]
|-
| City Cruises
| Tourist / sightseeing
| [http://www.citycruises.com www.citycruises.com]
|-
| Crown River Cruises
| Tourist / sightseeing
| [https://www.crownrivercruise.co.uk/ www.crownrivercruise.co.uk]
|-
| [[London Eye|London Eye River Cruise]] 
|  Tourist / sightseeing
| [https://www.londoneye.com/tickets-and-prices/general-tickets/river-cruise/ www.londoneye.com/tickets-and-prices/general-tickets/river-cruise]
|-
| [[PS Waverley|Waverley Excursions]]
| Tourist / sightseeing
| [https://www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk/ www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk]
|-
| [[Thames Clippers|Uber Boat by Thames Clippers]]
| Commuter service
| [http://www.thamesclippers.com www.thamesclippers.com]
|-
| [[Thames River Services|Thames River Sightseeing]]
| Tourist / sightseeing
| [https://www.thamesriversightseeing.com/ www.thamesriversightseeing.com]
|-
| Turk Launches
| Tourist / sightseeing
| [http://www.turks.co.uk www.turks.co.uk]
|-
| Viscount Cruises (Campion Launches)
| Tourist / sightseeing
| [https://www.viscountcruises.com www.viscountcruises.com]
|-
| [[Westminster Passenger Services Association | Westminster Passenger Services Association (Thames River Boats)]]
| Tourist / sightseeing
| [https://www.thamesriverboats.co.uk/index.asp www.thamesriverboats.co.uk]
|}

Charter services, usually catering for large parties, are also available from these and other operators.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Operator
! Charter services
! External link
|-
| Capital Pleasure Boats
| Private charters
| [http://cpbs.co.uk/]
|-
| [[Colliers Launches]]
| Private charters
| [http://www.collierslaunches.co.uk www.collierslaunches.co.uk]
|-
| Crown River Cruises
| Private charters
| [https://www.crownrivercruise.co.uk/ www.crownrivercruise.co.uk]
|-
| Livett's Launches
| Private charters
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20080409010136/http://www.livettslaunches.co.uk/page/london_party_boats_and_thames_cruises/]
|-
| London Party Boats
| Private charters
| [http://www.londonpartyboats.co.uk www.londonpartyboats.co.uk]
|-
| Maynard Launches (Cockney Sparrow)
| Private charters
| [https://www.cockneysparrow.co.uk www.cockneysparrow.co.uk]
|-
| [[Thames Leisure]]
| Tourist / sightseeing
| [http://www.thamesleisure.co.uk www.thamesleisure.co.uk]
|-
|Thames Party Boats
|Private charters
|https://www.thamespartyboats.co.uk/
|-
| Viscount Cruises (Campion Launches)
| Private charters
| [https://www.viscountcruises.com www.viscountcruises.com]
|}

{{Clear}}

==Piers==
{{London River Services map}}

London River Services lists 24 piers on the River Thames in its publications, of which 8 are managed directly by LRS.

===Millennium Piers===
[[Image:Millbank Pier, London.JPG|thumb|Millbank Millennium Pier – architect: Steve Chilton]]
In 2000, five new piers were opened with funding from the [[Millennium Commission]] under its Thames 2000 project, with a grant of [[Pound sterling|£]]7,177,000:<ref>{{Cite web
 |url         = http://www.millennium.gov.uk/cgi-site/awards.cgi?action=detail&id=164
 |title       = Thames 2000 Initiative
 |access-date  = 30 March 2008
 |year        = 2000
 |work        = The Millennium Commission
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20081209030700/http://www.millennium.gov.uk/cgi-site/awards.cgi?action=detail&id=164
 |archive-date = 9 December 2008
 |df          = dmy-all
}}
</ref>
* [[Tower Millennium Pier]]
* [[Blackfriars Millennium Pier]]
* [[London Eye Pier]]
* [[Westminster Millennium Pier]]
* [[Millbank Millennium Pier]]

The new piers were provided to improve previously neglected travel connections on the Thames and promote the river as an alternative means of public transport.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url         = http://www.millennium.gov.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=1213
 |title       = Ken Livingstone Opens New Millennium Commission Funded Pier
 |access-date  = 30 March 2008
 |author      = Mike O'Connor, Director of the Millennium Commission
 |date        = 13 July 2000
 |work        = The Millennium Commission
 |quote       = The Thames is vastly underused as a transport system for London. Thames 2000 is contributing much needed new piers for London which will serve a new sustainable transport system and promote greater use of the river. Visitors and residents will be able to use the Thames to reach other Millennium Commission funded attractions such as the new Tate Modern.
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20081209000734/http://www.millennium.gov.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=1213
 |archive-date = 9 December 2008
 |df          = dmy-all
}}
</ref>

===List of piers===
Scheduled tourist and commuter services use the following piers, although no single service serves all the piers listed. The piers are listed in order going downstream:<ref name="rivmap">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/RiverServicesSpring07.pdf |title=Riverboat service map and guide |publisher=Transport for London |access-date=13 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930202545/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/RiverServicesSpring07.pdf |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! # !! Pier!! Services !! Nearest tube/train !! Destinations !! Notes
|-
| 1
| [[Hampton Court Pier]]
| [http://www.turks.co.uk/turks-pier-hampton-court/]
| {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Hampton Court railway station|Hampton Court]]
| [[Hampton Court Palace]]
| Managed by Turk Launches Ltd.
|-
| 2
| [[Hampton Court Landing Stage]]
| [https://www.thamesriverboats.co.uk/thames-boats/hampton-court.asp Westminster Passenger Services Association (Thames River Boats)]
| {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Hampton Court railway station|Hampton Court]]
| [[Richmond upon Thames]]
| Owned & Operated by [[Westminster Passenger Services Association|Thames River Boats]] incorporating Colliers Launches & Maynard Launches.<ref name="cockneysparrow.co.uk">[https://www.cockneysparrow.co.uk/ Maynard Launches (M.V Cockney Sparrow) Website]</ref>
|-
| 3
| [[Kingston (Town End Pier)]]
| [http://www.turks.co.uk/town-end-pier-kingston/]
|
| [[Kingston upon Thames]]
| Managed by Turk Launches Ltd. Head office at this pier
|-
| 4
| [[Kingston (Turks Pier)]]
| [http://www.turks.co.uk/turks-pier-kingston/]
| {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Kingston railway station (London)|Kingston]]
| [[Kingston upon Thames]]
| Managed by Turk Launches Ltd.
|-
| 5
| [[Hammertons Landing Stage]]
|
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|london|overground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Richmond (London) station|Richmond]]
| [[Richmond upon Thames]]<br/>[[Ham House]]
| [[Hammerton's Ferry]],
|-
| 6
| [[Richmond Landing Stage]]
| [https://www.thamesriverboats.co.uk/thames-boats/richmond.asp Westminster Passenger Services Association (Thames River Boats)]
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|london|overground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Richmond (London) station|Richmond]]
| [[Richmond upon Thames]]
| Owned & Operated by [[Westminster Passenger Services Association|Thames River Boats]] incorporating Colliers Launches & Maynard Launches.<ref name="cockneysparrow.co.uk"/>
|-
| 7
| [[Richmond (St. Helena Pier)]]
| [http://www.turks.co.uk/st-helena-pier-richmond/]
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|london|overground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Richmond (London) station|Richmond]]
| [[Richmond upon Thames]]
| Managed operated by Turk Launches Ltd.
|-
| 8
| [[Kew Pier]]
| [https://www.thamesriverboats.co.uk/thames-boats/kew.asp Westminster Passenger Services Association (Thames River Boats)]
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|london|overground}} [[Kew Gardens station (London)|Kew Gardens]]<br/>{{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Kew Bridge railway station|Kew Bridge]]
| [[Kew Gardens]]<br/>[[London Museum of Water & Steam]]
| Owned & Operated by [[Westminster Passenger Services Association|Thames River Boats]] incorporating Colliers Launches & Maynard Launches.<ref name="cockneysparrow.co.uk"/>
|-
| 9
| [[Putney Pier]]
| [[Thames Clippers]] RB6
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[Putney Bridge tube station|Putney Bridge]]<br/>{{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Putney railway station|Putney]]
| [[Fulham]]<br/>[[Putney]]
| Managed by Livett's Launches [https://web.archive.org/web/20080727031037/http://www.livettslaunches.co.uk/page/piers_and_moorings/putney_pier/]
|-
| 10
| [[Wandsworth Riverside Quarter Pier]]
| [[Thames Clippers]] RB6
| {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Wandsworth Town railway station|Wandsworth Town]]
| [[Wandsworth]]
|
|-
| 11
| [[Chelsea Harbour Pier]]
| [[Thames Clippers]] RB6
| {{rail-interchange|london|overground}}{{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Imperial Wharf railway station|Imperial Wharf]]
| [[Chelsea Harbour]], [[Sands End]]
|
|-
| 12
| [[Cadogan Pier]]
| [[Thames Clippers]] RB6
| 
| [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]]
|
|-
| 13
| [[Battersea Power Station Pier]]
| [[Thames Clippers]] RB1, RB2, RB6
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[Battersea Power Station tube station|Battersea Power Station]]
| [[Battersea Power Station]]
| 
|-
| 14
|[[St George Wharf Pier|Vauxhall (St George Wharf) Pier]]
| [[Thames Clippers]] RB1, RB2, RB6
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[Vauxhall tube station|Vauxhall]]<br/>{{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Vauxhall railway station|Vauxhall]]
|
| Managed by Consort
|-
| 15
| [[Millbank Millennium Pier]]
| [[Thames Clippers]] RB1, RB2, RB6
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[Pimlico tube station|Pimlico]]
| [[Tate Britain|Tate Britain art gallery]]
| Managed by TfL
|-
| 16
| [[Westminster Millennium Pier|Westminster Pier]]
| [https://www.cityexperiences.com/london/city-cruises City Cruises]<br />[[Thames Clippers]] RB1, RB2 and RB6<br />[https://www.thamesriverboats.co.uk/thames-boats/latest-sailings.asp Westminster Passenger Services Association (Thames River Boats)]<br />[https://www.thamesriversightseeing.com/information/timetable Thames River Sightseeing]
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[Westminster tube station|Westminster]]
| [[Palace of Westminster]]<br/>[[Westminster Abbey]]
| Managed by TfL
|-
| 17
| [[London Eye Pier]] (Waterloo Millennium Pier)
|[[Thames Clippers]] RB1
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[London Waterloo railway station|Waterloo]] <br/> {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[London Waterloo East railway station|Waterloo East]]
| [[London Eye]]<br/>[[South Bank|South Bank arts precinct]]
| Managed by London Eye
|-
| 18
| [[Embankment Pier]]
| [[Thames Clippers]] RB1, RB2 and RB6<br />[https://www.thamesriversightseeing.com/information/timetable Thames River Sightseeing]
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[Embankment tube station|Embankment]]<br/>{{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Charing Cross railway station|Charing Cross]]
| [[London Eye]]<br/>[[South Bank|South Bank arts precinct]]<br />[[Trafalgar Square]]
| Managed by TfL
|-
| 19
| [[Festival Pier]]
| [https://www.thamesriversightseeing.com/information/timetable Thames River Sightseeing]
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[Embankment tube station|Embankment]]<br/>{{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[London Waterloo station|Waterloo]]
| [[London Eye]]<br/>[[South Bank|South Bank arts precinct]]
| Managed by TfL
|-
| 20
| [[Savoy Pier]]
|
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[Embankment tube station|Embankment]]<br/>{{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Charing Cross railway station|Charing Cross]]
| [[Savoy Hotel]]<br />[[Covent Garden]]
|
|-
| 21
| [[Tower Lifeboat Station]]
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20080325213303/http://www.natoli.co.uk/rnli/index.htm]
|
|
| Only for use by [[RNLI]] lifeboats; not open to the public.
|-
| 22
| [[Blackfriars Millennium Pier|Blackfriars Pier]]
| [[Thames Clippers]] RB1 and RB6
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Blackfriars station|Blackfriars]]
| [[St Paul's Cathedral]]<br/>[[Tate Modern|Tate Modern art gallery]]
| Managed by TfL
|-
| 23
| [[Bankside Pier]]
| [[Thames Clippers]] RB1, RB2 and RB6<br />[https://www.thamesriversightseeing.com/information/timetable Thames River Sightseeing]
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Blackfriars station|Blackfriars]]
| [[Shakespeare's Globe]]<br/>[[Tate Modern|Tate Modern art gallery]]
| Managed by TfL
|-
| 24
| [[London Bridge City Pier]]
|[[Thames Clippers]] RB1, RB2 and RB6
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]]
| {{HMS|Belfast|C35|6}}<br/>[[Southwark Cathedral]]
|
|-
| 25
| [[Tower Millennium Pier|Tower Pier]]
| [[Thames Clippers]] RB1, RB2 and RB6
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[Tower Hill tube station|Tower Hill]]<br/> {{rail-interchange|london|dlr}} [[Tower Gateway DLR station|Tower Gateway]] <br/> {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Fenchurch Street station|Fenchurch Street]]
| [[Tower of London]]<br/>[[Tower Bridge]]
| Managed by TfL
|-
| 26
| [[Tower Bridge Quay]]
| [https://www.thamesriversightseeing.com/information/timetable Thames River Sightseeing]
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[Tower Hill tube station|Tower Hill]] <br/> {{rail-interchange|london|dlr}} [[Tower Gateway DLR station|Tower Gateway]]
| [[St Katharine Docks]]<br>[[Tower of London]]<br>[[Tower Bridge]]
|
|-
| 27
| [[Nelson Dock Pier|Doubletree Docklands Pier]]
|[[Thames Clippers]] RB4
| –
| [[Rotherhithe]]
| [[Canary Wharf – Rotherhithe Ferry]] only
|-
| 28
| [[Canary Wharf Pier]]
|[[Thames Clippers]] RB1, RB2, RB4 and RB6
| {{rail-interchange|london|dlr}} [[Canary Wharf DLR station|Canary Wharf]]<br />{{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[Canary Wharf tube station|Canary Wharf]] <br/>{{rint|london|elizabeth}} [[Canary Wharf railway station|Canary Wharf]]
| [[Canary Wharf|Canary Wharf financial district]]
|
|-
| 29
| [[Greenland Pier|Greenland (Surrey Quays) Pier]]
|[[Thames Clippers]] RB1
| {{rail-interchange|london|overground}} [[Surrey Quays tube station|Surrey Quays]]
| [[Greenland Dock]]
|
|-
| 30
| [[Masthouse Terrace Pier]]
|[[Thames Clippers]] RB1
| {{rail-interchange|london|dlr}} [[Island Gardens DLR station|Island Gardens]]
| [[Isle of Dogs]]
|
|-
| 31
| [[Greenwich Pier]]
| [https://www.cityexperiences.com/london/city-cruises City Cruises]<br />[[Thames Clippers]] RB1 and RB2<br />[https://www.thamesriversightseeing.com/information/timetable Thames River Sightseeing]<br />[https://www.viscountcruises.com/thames-sunday-evening-cruise/ Viscount Cruises (Campion Launches)]
| {{rail-interchange|london|dlr}} [[Cutty Sark DLR station|Cutty Sark]]<br/>{{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} {{rail-interchange|london|dlr}} [[Greenwich railway station|Greenwich]]
| [[Greenwich]] <br/>[[Cutty Sark]]<br/>[[National Maritime Museum]]
| Managed by TfL
|-
| 32
| [[North Greenwich Pier]] (QEII Pier)
|[[Thames Clippers]] RB1 and RB2
| {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} [[North Greenwich tube station|North Greenwich]]
| [[The O2 Arena]]
|
|-
| 33
| [[Barrier Gardens Pier]]
| [https://www.thamesriversightseeing.com/information/timetable Thames River Sightseeing (Pre-Booking Required)]
| {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Woolwich Dockyard railway station|Woolwich Dockyard]]
| [[Thames Barrier]]
| Summer only
|-
| 34
| [[Royal Wharf Pier]]
|[[Thames Clippers]] RB1
| {{rail-interchange|london|dlr}} [[Pontoon Dock DLR station|Pontoon Dock]]<br/>{{rail-interchange|london|dlr}} [[West Silvertown DLR station|West Silvertown]]
| [[Royal Wharf]]
| Opened 2019<ref>{{cite news |title=Royal Wharf Pier Officially Open! - Uber Boat |url=https://www.thamesclippers.com/news/royal-wharf-pier-officially-open |access-date=3 September 2020 |work=www.thamesclippers.com |publisher=Thames Clippers |date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shillibeer |first1=Brian |title=New Royal Wharf Pier Arrives In London |url=https://www.twinfm.com/article/new-royal-wharf-pier-arrives-in-london |access-date=3 September 2020 |work=TWinFM |date=17 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 35
| [[Woolwich Arsenal Pier|Woolwich (Royal Arsenal) Pier]]
|[[Thames Clippers]] RB1<br/>[[Woolwich Ferry]]
| {{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} [[Woolwich Dockyard railway station|Woolwich Dockyard]]<br/>{{rail-interchange|gb|rail}} {{rail-interchange|london|dlr}} [[Woolwich Arsenal railway station|Woolwich Arsenal]]
| Woolwich<br />South Circular
| 
|-
| 36
| [[Woolwich Ferry|North Woolwich Pier]]
| [[Woolwich Ferry]]
| {{rail-interchange|london|dlr}} [[King George V DLR station|King George V]]
| Woolwich<br />North Circular<br />[[London City Airport]]
| 
|-
| 37
| [[Barking Riverside Pier]]
| [[Thames Clippers]] RB1
| {{rail-interchange|london|overground}} {{rws|Barking Riverside}}
| [[Barking Riverside]]
| Opened April 2022
|}

==Fares and ticketing==
[[Image:Greenwich pier6.jpg|thumb|right|Different ticket kiosks for each boat operator]]
Unlike the [[London Underground|underground]] and [[London Buses|bus]] networks, boat operators have their own separate ticketing arrangements and charge separate fares which are generally higher than corresponding journeys by tube or bus. The only exception is the [[Woolwich Ferry]], which is free of charge.

[[Oyster card]] is valid on most Thames Clipper services for single fares, offering a ten percent discount. Most boat operators offer discounts to [[Travelcard]] holders, as well as to [[Freedom Pass]] holders and students.

Ticket sales at piers are managed independently by the operators, and tickets are sold at separate kiosks with no facility for cross-ticketing. Many piers have a line of several sales desks, each owned by a different boat firm. Single tickets can often be bought on board the boat, but this is down to individual operator arrangements.

Some operators offer their own season tickets and [[carnet (ticket)|carnets]] of single tickets. Thames Clipper, for example, offer a one-day Roamer ticket which allows multiple journeys within off-peak hours.

==See also==
{{Portal|London transport|United Kingdom|Transport|London}}
*[[Crossrail]]
*[[Cycling in London]]
*[[Docklands Light Railway]]
*[[East London Transit]]
*[[London Overground]]
*[[Tramlink]]
*[[Transport on the Regent's Canal]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|London River Services}}
* [https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/river/ London River Services Website]
* [http://content.tfl.gov.uk/river-services-map.pdf Map of River Services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102094019/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/river-services-map.pdf |date=2 November 2020 }}
* [http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/95543 Collection of Google Earth locations of London River Services Piers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201129/http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/95543 |date=27 September 2007 }} (Requires [[Google Earth]]) from the Google Earth Community forum.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081022111541/http://paddlesteamers.awardspace.com/ThamesHistorical.htm Summary of Thames steamer services] – historical information on former steamboat companies of London (Tramscape)

{{London River Services navbox}}
{{Transport in London}}

[[Category:London River Services| ]]
[[Category:Ferry companies of England]]
[[Category:Transport authorities in London|River Services]]
[[Category:Transport organisations based in London]]
[[Category:Water transport in London]]